Experience Some Good Old 8-Bit Fun With Ms. Particle-Man

Ms. Particle-Man is a universal iOS game that harkens back to the halcyon days of arcade gaming. Its name aims to make that point, clearly alluding to the classic Ms. Pac-Man title. Beyond that, Ms. Particle-Man has noticeable traces of Pong, Donkey Kong, Breakout, Asteroids, Super Mario Bros. and, of course, Ms. Pac-Man. Practically every classic game from the age of Atari and Nintendo is brought to mind here. And since it’s a game that’s supposed to be retro-style, it revels in its own pixelated glory as well as in its nostalgic 8-bit music and sound effects.

Ms. Particle-Man bears the subtitle “The Search for the Higgs Boson,” and that’s exactly what you’ll be embarking on when you play the game. What the Higgs Boson looks like, no one really knows (except for the developer, that is). The only way to find out is to pass through the three worlds of the game. At the end of each world, a boss aka an “elementary particle” is introduced and must be defeated by the game’s hero or, rather, heroine.

The different 8-bit characters and elements in Ms. Particle-Man.

The eponymous Ms. Particle-Man, whose character design is also obviously based on the ball-shaped and bow-wearing Ms. Pac-Man, is controlled mainly by using your thumbs. Depending on the world she’s currently in, you’ll be able to make her float around, jump onto a platform or resist gravity to collect energy particles. You’ll also have to guide her toward accelerator pads in order to collide with and defeat a boss, taking you one step closer to meeting the mysterious Higgs Boson.

The game is the brainchild of Michael Falk, a programmer, musician and designer. His sensibilities in these three occupations seem to have collided to create a solid game. So, if you’d like an enjoyable iOS game that will let you relive the beloved video games of yesteryear, download Ms. Particle-Man now for only $0.99.